Folding and gluing machine



g- 11, 1959 I A. F. SHIELDS 2,898,819

FOLDING AND GLUING MACHINE Filed May 18, 1955 '5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q 2 i a:

JNVENTORL Mamm /ma:

Mix/ 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 11, 1959 A. F. SHIELDS FOLDING AND GLUINGMACHINE Filed May 18, 1955 Aug. 11, 1959 A. F. SHIELDS FOLDING ANDGLUING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 18, 1955 'mH UH 1959 A. F.SHIELDS FOLDING AND GLUING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 18, 1955IN V EN TOR. A1. 85.4%? E J'xmezps Aug. 11, 1959 SHELDS 2,898,819

FOLDING AND GLUING MACHINE Filed May 18, 1955 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FOLDINGAND GLUING MACHINE Albert F. Shields, Forest Hills, N.Y., assignor to S& S Corrugated Paper Machinery (10., Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporationof New York Application May 18, 1955, Serial No. 509,329

11 Claims. (Cl. 93-49) My present invention is a continuation-in-part ofmy copending application Serial No. 474,196, filed December 9, 1954, andrelates to a folding machine of the type generally wherein large sizecorrugated board or other paper blanks are to be passed from a stack,glued and then fed through various folding elements and thereby prepared for further manufacturing operations.

More particularly my invention relates to a novel folding machine whichis especially adapted to glue foldable side panels of corrugated blanksand then fold such blanks so as to prepare them for any furthercartonmaking operations.

In the making of cartons it is necessary to first crease and slot theblanks in order to properly prepare them for the folding operation. Thefolding operation for ordinary square tubular boxes comprises bending ofthe two outer panels on the score lines so that the edges of the panelsmeet to form a collapsed tube. The tube is then ready for a tapingoperation.

In the event that it is desired to join the edges of the outer panels byan adhesive first it is necessary to apply the glue or other adhesive tothe foldable outer panels of the blank and then fold the panels so thatthe outer edges overlap to an extent suificient to accommodate theirbeing pressed and glued together.

Heretofore, it has not been possible in an automatic operation to glueand fold the box panels in a continuous automatic operation. My novelfolding machine is so constructed as to overcome these diflic-ulties ofthe prior art, and to provide an automatic operation so that the blanksare glued and then folded, ready to be formed into cartons, boxes andthe like.

Primarily, my invention is directed towards improvements to provide arapid fully automatic and more efficient coordinated folding and gluingoperation. These improvements include means to apply adhesive to aninner foldable panel of the blank and a folding mechanism in which thetwo outer panels of the box blank are folded so that they overlap. Thefolding and gluing operation is completed by a rockable pressure meanswhich at the same time maintains the folded box blank in the saidoverlapped position.

My invention also includes means for stripping the folded blank from themechanism which conveys the said blank through the machine; means forholding down the blank so that it will not unfold when so stripped;means for sirnplyfying and integrating the drives for the variouselements of the machine so that each operation will take place at theproper instant.

The foregoing and many other objects of my invention will becomeapparent in the following description of the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of my novel improved folding machine.

Figure 2 is a side view of the novel folding machine of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective of the mechanism for driving thevarious elements of my folding machine Patented Aug. 11, 1959 the glueapplying mechanism.

Figure 6 is a side view taken partly in cross section of the novel meansfor stripping the folded blank and for coordinating its movement withthe operation of the stitcher.

Figure 7 is an end view taken along the lines 7-7 of Figure 6 andlooking in the direction of the arrows and further showing the operationof the stripping and holding down means of Figure 6.

Referring now to the Figures 1, 2 and 3 a stack of blanks 20 is placedon the bed of the stacking section 21 of the machine between the reargauge 23 and the front gauges 25. The bottom blank in the stack is fedtowards the right by the feed slats 27 through the space 30 below thefront gauge 25.

The space 30 is so adjusted that it is just high enough to permit one ofthe blanks to pass through while holding back the remainder of thestack. The blank passes through the space 30 over the bar 31 and ispushed by the feed slat 27 between the upper and lower feed rollers 35and 36, respectively. Feed rollers 35 and 36 engage the blank and carryit forward.

The blanks are then fed between the upper and lower feed rollers 41 and42. Upper feed rollers 41 actually consist of two idler pressure rollers41a and 41b. The feedrollers 42 on the underside are sectional typerollers extending entirely across the machine and are driven by a chaindrive in :a manner hereinafter described in more detail.

The shaft 45 which drives feed rolls 42 also carry outside the two feedrolls a gluing mechanism comprising a glue roll 501 and a pressure roll502. The glue roll is supported by a suitable mounting 510 and thepressure roll by means of lever 511. The operation of this mechanism isdescribed hereinafter in more detail in connection withthe discussion ofFigures 4 and 5.

It should be noted, however, that one of the side foldable panels oftheblank passes between the pressure roll and the glue roll, so thatadhesive is applied to the underside thereof along the entirelongitudinal dimension at a point near or contiguous to the outerextremity of the foldable panel. Thus the overlapped panel which is thesecond panel to be folded contains, on the underside thereof, a tackyadhesive before entering the folding operation. If desired the mechanismcan also be arranged to apply the adhesive to the topside of the firstpanel to be folded.

The blank pushed by roller 42 continues its forward motion until it hitsstops 46 mounted on stop bars 47. While the blank is in the positionwith its forward edge against the two stops 46 the creases or scores onwhich the fold is to take place are in register with the outer sideswith the folding bars 39 and 40. This is, of course, obtained by anappropriate adjustment of the machine, as hereinafter described, priorto the beginning of a run and by appropriate stacking of the blanks.

While the blank is in the stop position against stops 46 the foldingbars 39 and 40 fold the blanks so that the panels overlap slightly. Thismeans that one folding plate will act slightly out of phase with theother.

Theoperation of these plates is described in my parent Note that thestop bars are mounted on links which are provided with cam followers 51.The timing of this mechanism, of course, can be controlled by theappropriate design of the earns 50.

At this point the blanks are conveyed forward by slats 90 which areattached to the three chain conveying mechanism 130. The slats thencarry the blank forward until the operation of the stripper shown inFigure 6 removed the blank from the slats.

Referring now to Figure 3 in more detail it can be seen how the machineis driven and how the action of the driving mechanisms for the variouscomponents are coordinated. The machine is driven by motor 100. Belt 103coming off the fly wheel 102 of the motor engages pulley 104 whichcarries, on a common shaft 105, sprocket wheel 106. Sprocket 106 isconnected by chain 107 so as to drive the jack shaft 108. Threesprockets are mounted on the said jack shaft. Sprocket 109 receiveschain 107 and drives the shaft. Sprocket 110 drives chain 112 which inturn drives the lower second feed roll 42 and glue roll 501 throughsprocket 114, the lower first feed roll 36 through the sprocket 115, andthe upper first feed roll 35 through sprocket 116.

Note that the chain is wound around sprockets 115 and 116 so as to makeupper feed rolls 35 and 36 rotate in an opposite direction. That is, inorder to force the blank to the right the upper feed roll 35 must rotatecounterclockwise while the lower feed roll 36 rotates clockwise.Adjusting idler 118 is also provided to make sure that the chain isproperly taut. Sprocket 118 is adjustable in a horizontal direction asindicated by arrows 119. The third sprocket from the jack shaft 120carries chain 122. This chain passes over stationary idler 123 anddrives the folding box shaft 48 by means of sprocket 124. It then passesover an adjusting idler 125, stationary idler 126 and sprocket 147 whichserves to operate the stripping device in a manner hereinafterdescribed.

The sprocket 145 riding on shaft 111 is provided with holes 145a so asto either engage or disengage the pin 147a in clutch 147. A secondsprocket 131 on common shaft 111 is provided with similar holes 131a sothat it may also engage or disengagee the clutch 147. The clutch 147 iskeyed to the shaft 111 and drives sprocket wheel 131 or 145 only when itis engaged with them through holes 131a and 145a. Otherwise, when not soengaged, these sprocket wheels ride freely on the shaft 111. Theposition of the clutch may be changed by the operator by means of anexternal handle 132. Chain 129 which connects sprocket 128 and 120passes over the adjusting idler 133 while chain 129 passes over idler133 and connects sprockets 127 and 145. The purpose of the clutch is tochange the drive speed of shaft 50 operating the stripping devicedepending on the length of board being glued.

Thus the shaft 50' can be driven either from sprocket wheel 127 or fromsprocket wheel 128 each of which will be provided with sprockets so asto provide for a two speed arrangement. In other words, sprocket 128 maydrive shaft 50' through sprocket wheel 131 at a different rate than ifthe shaft were driven through sprockets 127 and 145. This provides asimple mechanism for changing the speed of the feed slat chain 130 andthereby enabling the machine to feed shorter blanks into the stitcher ata more rapid rate when desired. Thus, a speed changing mechanism isprovided which Wlil double the output of folded boxes for a unit ofmovement of the chain 130. This clutch arrangement allows the operatorto adust handle 132 to the appropriate position, depending on the numberof feed slats 90 to be used on the chain drive 130.

Referring again to chain 122, it can be seen that the cha1n passes overstationary idler 134, vertically adjustable idler 135, stationary idler136 and then'rotates by means of sprocket wheel 137 to operate thekicker slat 27 by means of shaft 26. The method of operating the kickerslat 27 is well known in the art and is shown in my prior Patents Nos.2,583,712 (Figure 4), and 2,622,- 493 (Figure 4).

The chain 122 passes over stationary idler 138 and then back to jackshaft thus, it can be seen that the operation of kicker slat 27, thefolding mechanism,

the stripping device and the drive for the slat carrying. chains are alloperated by a single driving chain andthereby readily coordinated.

Moreover, a single driving chain also drives both sets of feed rollersand this driving chain also is driven from the common jack shaft 108which further coordinates the operation of this chain 112, withaforementioned drive chain 122. Also coordinated with drive chain 122 isthe drive for the hold down bar 56, that is, chain 139. This chainoperates from separate sprocket 142 which is readily secured to shaft 48which is driven by the chain drive 122. Chain 139 passes over idler 143and then into the hold down mechanism which is described in more detailin connection with Figures 4 and 5 of my copending application SerialNo. 474,196. The triple chain 130 carrying slats 90 is also coordinatedwith the above mentioned drive systems as it is driven from drivesprocket and over idler sprockets 194 and 196 with drive sprocket 195being keyed to shaft 45 to which feed roll 42 is mounted. Note also thatthe rotation of this shaft 48 operating the folding mechanism andstop-operating shaft 49 is coordinated by providing chain connection 199between sprockets 197 and 198 on shafts 48 and 49, respectively. Shaft49 can also be coordinated by mounting the sprocket 196 so that itsmotive power is chain 122. This would eliminate sprocket 197.

Referring now specifically to the operation of the gluing apparatus andto Figures 4 and 5 it can be seen that the glue roll is mounted on shaft45 so that the blank as it passes between upper feed roll 35 and lowerfeed roll 36 passes over said glue roll, pressure being applied by meansof pressure roll 502. The pressure roll is connected by arm 511 to frame520 through which jack shaft 108 passes. The shaft 521 carrying sprocket118 also passes through this frame. The link 511 is rotatably mounted bymeans of pin 522 to rod 524 which is secured to the lower portion of theframe. The amount of pressure which the pressure roll 502 exerts againstthe blank as it passes between this roll and the glue roll is determinedby the thumb screw 525.

The glue roll is mounted within pan 530 which contains the liquidadhesive and as it rotates in a clockwise direction picks up adhesivefrom the pan. The level of liquid adhesive in the pan is indicated bydotted line 532. In order that the glue is evenly distributed over theglue roll feed collars 535 and doctor roll 537 are provided. Anadjustable scraper blade can also be used for this purpose. The pressureof doctor roll 537 against the glue roll may be varied through anadjustment of thumb screw 538. The glue roll is mounted on shaft 45 anddriven at machine speed through an overrunning clutch.

In order that the glue roll shall rotate continuously during the periodwhen the machine is in operation and no blank is pressing against theroll an overrunning clutch 560 is provided which allows the glue roll tobe run at a slower speed by the motor 54b. This is accomplished by meansof chain 542 and sprockets. The continuously rotating glue roll isnecessary in order that the adhesive thereon does not become dried andcaked during the time when the machine is not operating and no blank isin contact with the gluer. Thus a fresh supply of liquid adhesive isalways available for contacting the upper side panel of the blank whichis to be folded.

Obviously the gluing mechanism may be placed on either side of themachine depending on the side panel to which adhesive is to be applied.

The operation of the stop releasing mechanim hereinbefore described andof the folding mechanism may also be seen in a general manner fromFigure 3. Thus, upon the rotation of folding shaft 48 the folding barswill operate from the rack and pinion arrangement 165 166 which operatesfrom cams 175 by means of cam followers 172. This is also pointed out inmore detail in my parent application Serial No. 474,196.

For the purposes of my present application it is sufiicient to say thatby this folding means, full control and timing of the open position, thefolding operation and the reopening operation of the folding bars isobtained, particularly since shaft 48 as hereinafter described is drivenfrom the same source of power and, therefore, in synchronism with thefeeding device and the hold down device.

The folding mechanism does not complete the folding on the blanks butmerely applies a partial fold thereto. The fold is completed by thelongitudinally rockable arm 56 which also maintains the fold until thestop 46 is depressed and the blank is conveyed to the strippingmechanism by a slat 90 riding on chain 130. Arm 56 also performs thefunction of pressing the overlapping panels together so as to firmlysecure the glue or other adhesive which has been applied by roll 501.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3 itv can be seen that the motion of thishold down arm 56 is coordinated with the drive mechanism hereinbeforedescribed and is so driven that the rear portion indicated by numeral 57first touches the blank and then the arm is rocked forward so as tocomplete the folding of the. blank. Chain 139 driven off of shaft 142passes over idler 143 and drives shaft 62. The outer surface 63 of shaft62 is geared and drives gear wheel 64 which in turn drives geared wheel65.

The eccentric cranks 72 and 73 are operated out of phase so that thedownward motion of the arm 84a-94a connected to the rear portion 57 ofthe hold down bar 56 occurs before the downward motion of the arm 84b94bconnected to the front part of the hold down bar.

The reciprocating motion of the arms 94a and 94b is maintained in avertical plane by guide rollers 95, 96 and 97. Because the chain drive139 going to the drive shaft 62 is driven from shaft 48 which alsodrives the folding mechanism (see Figure 3) the rockable bar or arm 56is coordinated, with the motion of the folding mechanism so that afterthe blank is partially folded to an extent that the outer longitudinaledges thereof overlap the bar 56 descends and completes the fold by therockable motion heretofore mentioned and acts as a hold down bar for thefolded portion of the blank until such time as the stop means areremoved and the blank is ready to be conveyed to the strippingmechanism.

Arms 94a and 94b are secured to their respective extensions 84a and 84bwhich carry springs 85 by means of the slidable mountings 87.

Safety device 88 consisting of spring biased rollers 89 shuts ofi thefolding mechanism in the event that the blanks should pile up underneaththe hold down bar 56. Such a pile up would increase the upward pressureon arms 84a and 84b which would in turn open the safety switch 88.

The motion of the rocker arm or bar 56 is illustrated and explained inmore detail in connection with the reference to. Figure 4'in mycopendimg parent application hereinbefore referred to.

Referring now to Figure 7 in more detail, the blank after being foldedis raised from the slats as it rides on bar 295 by an oscillatorystripping member 200 and the fold is held in place by hold down member201. The co-action between the stripping member 200 and the 6 hold downmember 201. maintains the blank in its folded position so that it may befed directly to the stitcher.

The take ofi or stripping bar operates as follows: Shaft 50 is drivenfrom sprocket 127 which is rotated by chain 122 (see Figures 2 and 3).The crank wheel 128a carries an eccentrically mounted pin 204 which issecured to link 203. Thislink is secured to link 206 by pin 205. Thelink 206 is pivoted through pin 207 to the mechanism which appliesrockable motion to the stripping bar 200. This rockable mechanismconsists of links 208 and 210 which are pivoted at 207, 211 and 212,213, respectively. The pivots 211 and 213 rigidly secure the movablelinks to the steel stripping bar while the'pivots 207 and 212,respectively apply an oscillatory motion to the stripping bar 200causing oscillation for each 360 rotation of shaft 50'. The pin 204 canbe adjusted on a periphery so as to provide register for the variouslengths of box. Instead of being operated from crank 128a the take oifor stripping bar can also be operated from a cam mounted on a worm andworm wheel coupling. The cam would actuate a crank arm on which isattached a cam follower and would impart the same rocking motion as inthe case of the crank.

The oscillatory motion is vertical but it is directed at an angle awayfrom the direction of feed of the blank. Thus, the stripper tends toboth lift and ride with the blank at the same time. Since theoscillatory motion provided through shaft 50' ispart of the drive systemfor the rest of the machine as seen from Figure 3, the strippingoperation can be readily coordinated with the movement of the blank asit comes from the folding operation.

As shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 7, two strippers of the natureherein described are used on either side; of the machine. The positionof the strippers before the arrival of a blank isgshown by the dottedline and the numeral 200' and its position as a blank enters the spacingbetween the stripper and the hold down bar is shown by thesolid line andnumeral 200..

Similarly, the hold down bar 201 removes from a lower position 201' toan upper position as shown .by 201, as the blank is stripped ofi ofconveyor chain 130 and away from the feed bar by the dual strippingmechanism. In order to assure that the hold .down bar acts incooperation with the stripper a link 312 is provided which is pivoted at213 to the link 206 which provides the oscillatory stripper motion. Theother end of link 312 is pivoted at pin 214 to arm 215 which in turn ispivoted at 218 to member 220 which is slidably secured by pin 322 to thehold down bar 201.

Thus, as the stripper bar moves up and to the right a similar motion isimparted to the hold down bar so that suificient space is allowed forthe blank to pass between these two bars, while at the same time thefold in the blank is maintained. The passage of the blank between thetwo bars is more clearly seen in Figure 7 where'in'the solid lines showthe position of the blank, hold down and stripper bars before strippingand the dotted lines show the upward movement of these elements afterthe blank has been stripped from the slats.

Roller 320 provides additional support for the blank as it passesbetween the straightening rolls 222. In connection with the hold downbar 201 note that pivots 230 and 232 in connection with piece 234 allowfor the movement of the other end of the hold down bar in a fashionsimilar to that described in connection with the pivots 218 and 222.Both pivots 222 and 232 are slidably mounted in a manner so as to allowa desired amount of vertical tolerance with respect to the motion of thehold down bar.

After being stripped the blank passes underneath safety device 240.Should the blanks pile up at this point the arm 240 will rise and pivotaround pin 245 so that it disconnects with the contacts 242 and therebyshuts oif the machine.

The machine isso' arrangedi n time that as soon as the stops 46 aredepressed by the action of the cams 50 slat'90 mounted across the chains130 moves up and into engagement with the rear of the folded blank andmoves the blank beneath the hold down strip 295 which is adjustablysupported so that it extends just in front of the stops and up to thepoint where the stripping mechanism removes the blank from the slats.The front end of hold down strip 295 is curved upwardly so that panelswhich tend to spring up after being folded will be guided down again andtheir edges brought to abutting position. Also provided is a guide strip296 over which the blank is folded and which runs the full length of thefolder. I

Referring again to the top plan view in Figure 1 and Figure 6, it can beseen that the straightening rolls 222 are mounted on stub shafts 221 andsupported on adjustable plates 302. Then the plates are adjusted so thatthe peripheries of the aligned rollers 222 on each side are spaced apartby a distance which is slightly less than the width of the folded blank.

The slats 90 force the blank between the rolls with the edges of theblank riding against the row on each side. Since the rolls are thusspaced slightly closer together than the width of the blank and creaseor fold is adjusted and spread vertically.

All members which engage the edges of the blanks are provided with nutswhich in turn are driven by screws all of which may be driven from acommon source on each side of the machine in order to adjust the machinefor different widths of blanks.

Figure 1 shows how all adjustments on one side of the machine may bedriven from a common chain 400 which passes over sprockets 401-407. Thevarious adjusting screws appear in Figure 1 as elements 410-415. Sincethe adjusting mechanism is not considered an essential part of myinvention it is not necessary to describe it herein in further detail.Attention is called, however, to the description of this type ofadjusting mechanism in my prior Patent Nos. 2,583,712 and 2,622,493.

In the foregoing, I have described my invention only in connection withpreferred embodiments thereof. Many variations and modifications of theprinciples of my invention within the scope of the description hereinare obvious. Accordingly, I prefer to be bound not by the specificdisclosure herein, but only by the appending claims.

I claim:

1. In a folding machine for forming flat collapsed tubular box blanksfrom flat and scored sheets, said sheets having a pair of longitudinallyextending side sections defined by score lines and foldable about saidscore lines into said collapsed tubular arrangement; means forcontinuously moving said blanks successively into a position to befolded; means for applying adhesive to foldable side sections of thesaid moving blanks; means for stopping said blanks when said blanks havereached such position; means for folding over each of said side sectionswhile said blanks are halted so that said sections overlap; pressuremeans for completing the fold in said blanks; means for moving saidblanks from said folding position after the same have been folded;oscillatory upwardly moving means for stripping the folded blank fromthe blank moving means, means for maintaining the fold in the strippedblank; said last recited means and said oscillatory means beingmaintained in spaced apart relationship while in engagement with saidblanks.

2. In a folding machine for forming flat collapsed tubular box blanksfrom fiat and scored sheets, said sheets having a pair of longitudinallyextending side sections defined by score lines and foldable about saidscore lines into said collapsed tubular arrangements; means forcontinuously moving said blanks successively into a position to befolded; means for applying adhesive to foldable side sections of thesaid moving blanks; means for stopping said blanks whensaid blanks havereached such position means forfolgling over each of said side sectionswhile said blanks arehalted so that said side sections overlap; rockablepressure means for completing the fold in said blanks; means for movingsaid blanks from said folding position after the same have been folded;oscillatoryu pwardly movingsmeans for stripping the folded blank fromthe blank moving means, means for holding down the stripped blank, themovement of said holding means being coordinated with the movement ofsaid stripping means; said last recited means and said oscillatory meansbeing maintained in spaced apart relationship whilein engagement withsaid blanks.

3. In a folding machine forforming fiat collapsed tubular box blanksfrom fiat, and scored sheets, said sheets having a pair oflongitudinally extending side sections defined by score lines andfoldable about said score lines into said collapsed tubular arrangement;each of said sheets also including a center section between said scorelines, means for applying adhesive to foldable side sections of the saidmoving blanks; stop members mounted on said machine; means forcontinuously moving said blank successively against said stop members ina position to be folded; means for folding over each of said sidesections while said blanks are halted so that said side sectionsoverlap, said folding means comprising a pair of folding bars extendingin the direction of movement of the blank and rotatable about an axisparallel to the score lines defining said longitudinally extending sidesections; longitudinally rockable pressure means for completing the foldin said blanks; means for moving said blanks from said folding positionafter the same have been folded; and upwardly moving means for strippingthe folded blank from the blank moving means while maintaining theportions of said side sections which have had glue applied theretospaced from said center section.

4. In a folding machine for forming fiat collapsed tubular box blanksfrom fiat and scored sheets, said sheets having a pair of longitudinallyextending side sections defined by score lines and foldable about saidscore lines into said collapsed tubular arrangements; each of saidsheets also including a center section between said score lines, meansfor applying adhesive to the lower surface of one of the foldable sidesections of the said moving blank; stop members mounted on said machine;means for continuously moving said blank successively against said stopmembers in a position to be folded; means for folding over each sidesection while said blanks are halted so that said side sections overlap,longitudinally rockable pressure means for completing the fold in saidblanks, means for moving said blanks from said folding position afterthe same have been folded; and upwardly moving means for stripping thefolded blank from the blank moving means while maintaining the portionsof said side sections which have had glue applied thereto spaced fromsaid center section.

5. In a folding machine for forming fiat collapsed tubular box blanksfrom fiat and scored sheets, said sheets having a pair of longitudinallyextending side sections defined by score lines and foldable about saidscore lines into said collapsed tubular arrangements; means forcontinuously moving said blanks successively into a position to befolded; means for applying adhesive to a surface of one of the foldableside sections of the said moving blank; means for stopping said blankswhen said blanks have reached such position; means for successivelyfolding over each of said side sections while said blanks are halted sothat said side sections overlap, said folding means comprising a pair offolding bars extending in the direction of movement of the blank androtatable about an axis parallel to the score lines defining saidlongitudinally extending side sections, longitudinally rockable pressuremeans for completing the fold in said blanks, means for moving. saidblanks from said folding position after the same have been folded;upwardly moving means for stripping the folded blank from the blankmoving means; and pressure means for maintaining the fold in the blank;the last two recited of said means being maintained in spaced apartrelationship while in engagement with said blanks.

' 6. In a folding machine for forming flat and collapsed tubular boxblanks from flat and scored sheets, said sheets having a pair oflongitudinally extending side sections defined by score lines andfoldable about said score lines into said collapsed tubular arrangement;each of said sheets also including'a center section between said scorelines; roller means for applying adhesive to a portion of the under sideof one of said side sections, pressure means for maintaining the fulllength of the blank in contact with said roller means; means forstopping said blanks when said blanks'have reached such position; meansfor successively folding over each of said side sections while saidblanks are halted so that said side sections overlap; longitudinallyrockable pressure means for completing the fold in said blanks; meansfor moving said blanks from said folding position after the same havebeen folded, oscillatory and upwardly moving means for stripping thefolded blank from the blank moving means while maintaining the portionsof said side sections which have had glue applied thereto spaced fromsaid center section.

7. In a folding machine for forming fiat collapsed tubular box blanksfrom flat and scored sheets, said sheets having a pair of longitudinallyextending side sections defined by score lines and foldable about saidscore lines into said collapsed tubular arrangements; each of saidsheets also including a center section between said score lines; rollermeans for applying adhesive to a longitudinal portion of one of saidside section-s, pressure means for maintaining the full length of theblank in contact with said rollar means; means for stopping said blankswhen said blanks have reached such position; means for successivelyfolding over each of said side sections while said blanks are halted sothat said side sections overlap; longitudinally rockable pressure meansfor completing the fold in said blanks, means for moving said blanksfrom said folding position after the same have been folded; the saidpressure means having a forwardly rocking motion and being operativelycoordinated with the movement of the said blanks; oscillatory means forstripping the folded blank from the blank moving means, and means forholding down the stripped blank; said stripping means being operable inan upward direction so as to cooperate with the movement of the blank,and being operatively connected to apparatus for holding down the foldin said blank so that the stripping means and the hold down meansoscillate simultaneously in the same direction while maintaining theportions of said side sections which have had glue applied theretospaced from said center section.

8. In a folding machine for forming flat collapsed tubular box blanksfrom flat and scored sheets, said sheets having a pair of longitudinallyextending side sections defined by score lines and foldable about saidscore lines into said collapsed tubular arrangement; each of said sheetsalso including a center section between said score lines; roller meansfor applying adhesive to a longitudinal portion of one of said sidesections, pressure means for maintaining the full length of the blank incontact with said roller means; means for stopping said blanks when saidblanks have reached such position; means for successively folding overeach of said side sections 'while said blanks are halted so that saidside sections overlap; rockable pressure means for completing the foldin said blanks; means for moving said blanks from said folding positionafter the same have been folded; the said pressure means having aforwardly rocking motion and being operatively coordinated with themovement of the said blanks; and oscillatory means for stripping thefolded blank from the blank moving means;

said stripping means being operable in an upward direction so astocooperate with the movement of the blank, and being operativelyconnected to apparatus for holding downthe fold in said blank so thatthe stripping means and the holding down means oscillate simultaneouslyin the same direction while maintaining the portions of said sidesectionswhich have had glue applied thereto spaced from said centersection.

9. In a folding machine for forming flat collapsed tubular box blanksfrom flat and scored sheets, said sheets having a pairof longitudinallyextending side sections defined by score lines'and foldable about saidscore lines into said collapsed tubular arrangement; each of said sheetsalso including a center section between said score lines; roller meansfor applying adhesive to a portion of one of said ,side sections,pressure means for maintaining the full length of the blank in contactwith said roller means; stop members mounted on said machine; apparatusfor moving said blanks successively against said stop member, meansforfolding over the side sections, the completion of said folding operationreleasing said blanks from said stops; said folding means comprisingapparatus for successively folding over each of said side sections whilesaid blanks are halted so that said side sections overlap;longitudinally rockable pressure means for completing the fold in saidblanks; means for moving said blanks from said folding position afterthe same have been folded; and oscillatory means for stripping thefolded blank from the blank moving means; said stripping means beingoperable in an upward direction so as to cooperate with the movement ofthe blank, and being operatively connected to apparatus for holding downthe fold in said blank so that the stripping means and the holding downmeans oscillate simultaneously in the same direction while maintainingthe portions of said side sections which have had glue applied theretospaced from said center section.

10. In a follding machine for forming flat collapsed tubular box blanksfrom flat and scored sheets, said sheets having a pair of longitudinallyextending side sections defined by score lines and foldable about saidscore lines into said collapsed tubular arrangement; means forcontinuously moving said blanks successively into a position to befolded; roller means for applying adhesive to a longitudinal portion ofone of said side sections, pressure means for maintaining the fulllength of V the blank in contact with said roller means, and clutchmeans for continuously rotating said roller means when it is not incontact with the blank; means for stopping said blanks when said blankshave reached such position; means for successively folding over each ofsaid side sections while said blanks are halted so that said sidesections overlap; longitudinally rockable pressure means for completingthe fold in said blanks; means for moving said blanks from said foldingposition after the same have been folded; said pressure means beingoperated by two eccentrically mounted cranks which rotate out of phaseand thereby cause the arm of said pressure means to hit a back portionof the blank and rock forward so as to successively contact the moreforward portions of the blank; oscillatory means for stripping thefolded blank from the blank moving means; said stripping means beingoperable in an upward direc tion so as to cooperate with the movement ofthe blank, and being operatively connected to apparatus for holding downthe fold in said blank so that the stripping means and the hold downmeans oscillate simultaneously in the same direction.

11. In a folding machine for forming flat collapsed tubular box blanksfrom flat and scored sheets, said sheets having a pair of longitudinallyextending side sections defined by score lines and foldable about saidscore lines into said collapsed tubular arrangement; means forcontinuously moving said blanks successively H 11 .7 into a position tobe foldedyrollermeans for applying adhesive to a longitudinal portion ofthe under side of one of said side sections, pressure means formaintaining the full length of the blank in contact with said rollermeans, and clutch means for continuously rotating said roller means whenit is not in contact with the blank; means for stopping said blanks whensaid blanks have reached such position; means for successively foldingover each of said side sections while said blanks are halted so thatsaid side sections overlap; longitudinally rockable pressure means forcompleting the fold in said blanks; means for moving said blanks fromsald folding position after the same have been folded; said pressuremeans being operated by two eccentrically mounted cranks which rotateout of phase and thereby cause the arm of said pressure means to hit aback portion of the blank and rock forward so as to successively contactthe more forward portions of the blank; oscillatory means for strippingthe folded blank from the blank moving means, "and being operativelyconnected to apparatus for holding down the fold in the said blank sothat the stripping means and the hold down means oscillatesimultaneously in the same direction; and common drive means forcoordinating the movement of the blank conveying means, folding means,stripping means and hold down means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS549,571 Koffenberger Nov. 12, 1895 992,244 Potdevin May 16, 19111,505,178 Wade et al. Aug. 19, 1924 1,757,730 McPike May 6, 19302,017,535 Hammer Oct. 15, 1935 2,633,063 Ohrn Mar. 31, 1953 2,837,012Burroughs June 3, 1958

